do I accept the money?

[nanscamp]

My son lent a classmate his brand new coat to go home in as it was raining. He is a good natured lad and didnt think twice about it. The other lad then lost the coat. His mum has offered to pay for a new one. Do I accept the money, things are a bit tight at the moment, or do I refuse?

[sherrardk]

I think I would take the money as you are out of pocket because your boy was being kind, and as you say, things are a bit tight at the moment.

[welshlibranr]

Accept the replacement coat!....your son needs one!............you already paid for the one that his friend lost!.................

[anneasquith]

accept,

[ummmm]

How much was the coat?

[PipinHull]

Accept with grace - it's tempting to say 'oh don't worry about it' but I'm sure if you say 'actually that would be really great and would help me out, thank you' I can't see how she could take offence.

[ninja100]

Kids is kids. Your son (lovely as he is) took a risk in lending the coat. What if the other kid was robbed or the mother didn't offer to pay for any reason - what would you do? I would accept half the money as that seems fair in the circumstances & there'll be no hidden hard feelings plus your son should learn from the episode i.e. there is a risk in lending stuff to others!

[4getmenot]

accept it, and just say thank you

[dotty.]

bet the coat turns up in a bit

[ninja100]

yes dotty! - never thought of that...then what - if you've accepted the money? Go halves.

[nanscamp]

thanks for all your answers. Dotty, you are probably right, it may turn up. It cost £45. Im tempted to refuse to save bad feeling. Going halves looks like the right way to go. I could throttle him sometimes, he nearly got detention last week for sticking up for someone. Thanks again

[kineton1]

I am tempted to say the full cost of the coat in order to teach (hopefully) the lad who lost it a lesson in taking care of other people's property.

[annmac]

Yes of course you should accpet the money for your boys coat.It was very gracious
of the mother to offer and she should expect some thanks from her son who lost the coat

Accept it and buy your boy a new coat..take care annmac mother of 3 grownups

[joko]

take the money...the boy should understand that he must take care of things esepcially when they are not his...

[FUZZYBEE]

Take half the money and maybe the other Mum will buy hers a coat/spare coat! Don't get cross with your son for being kind, you obviously brought him up very well, there's a lot worse things to be than kind....he sounds lovely.

[nanscamp]

update for you. As predicted Dotty, the coat turned up. Dirty and in friends' brothers wardrobe. Its a good job I didnt take any money from his mum. Hopefully my son will think twice who he lends to, bet he wont though. Never mind, it was only a coat, no-one was hurt. Thanks for all your replies